Voting-machine.



PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905.

A. G. GORDON. VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATIONHLED s2PT.13, 1902. RENBWED 00T. 25. 1905.

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A. C. GORDUN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1s, 1902.

RENEWED OCT. 25. 1905.

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PATBNTBD DBO.. 19, 1905.

A. GJGORDON.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13, 1902. RENEWED OCT. 25. 1905.

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No. 807,818. PATENTED DBC. 10, 1905. A. O. GORDON.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.13, 1902. RENEWED OCT. 25. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

NTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANGUS O. GORDON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO SAMUEL W. PUFFER, OF ROCHESTER, N EW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE..

Speceaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application flled September 13, 1902. Renewed October 25. 1905. Serial No. 284,376.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANeUs O. GORDON, acitizen ofthe United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe, in the State of New York, have invented an lmproved Voting- Machine, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in that type of voting-machines in which the counters for the various candidates are actuated by selectively-placed weights or balls, and has reference more particularly to the construction of such a machine with an upright face-plate.

My improvements are fully described and illustrated in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, the novel features thereof being specified in the claims annexed to the said specification. f

In the accompanying drawings, representing my improved voting-machine, Figure 1 is a front elevation. Fig. 2 is an end elevation. Fig. 3 represents a portion of the face-plate. Fig. 4 represents one of the sliding gates detached. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through one of the rows of slides. Fig. 6 is a diagram representing the movement of the gate and the operation of the irregular-balloting mechanism. Figs. 7 and 8 representan irregularvoting member. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation. Fig. 10 is a front view of the slides and ballholders detached. Fig. 11 is a side view of the same. Fig. 12 is a partial horizontal section. Fig. 13 represen ts the interlocking plate detached. Fig. 14 represents the lock-out for class voting.

The operation of my improved voting-machine will be understood when it is stated that the counters on one side of the upright faceplate are actuated by weights or balls selectively placed between suitable jaws or holders on the opposite side, which balls at the end of the voting operation are delivered through suitable openings in the plate, so as to operate the counters as they descend through suitable channels. Provision is also made for straightticket, split, irregular, and group voting, and the machine is also arranged for' class and question voting.

The general appearance of the machine will be perceived from Figs. 1 and 2, said machine comprising a suitable upright case A, inclosing the working parts, the perforated faceplate B, the ball-holding movable jaws or supports O, a series of counters D on the side of the face-plate opposite the ball-holders, and the ball channels or guides E. The ball-supports are carried by movable slides, which are provided with suitable placards or namecards indicating the offices and the names of the candidates. Between the face-plates and the slides carrying the ball-holders is placed a series of perforated sliding gates F, operated by a crank or handle G and which by their movements permit the balls to pass through the plate into the channels E, where they actuate the counters after the voter has selectively arranged the balls in the holders corresponding with the counters devoted to the particularcandidates for whom he desires to register his vote. After each voting operation the balls are automatically restored to a suitable receptacle in front of the lower end of the face-plate ready for the next voter. The channels are provided It will of offices to be iilled and that each row coin-"I prises a series of ball-holders and counters sufficient to represent the political parties. In the particular arrangement shown the row of ball-holding jaws and counters at the left in Fig. 1 are employed for straight-ticket voting. The next row is devoted to presidential electors, for which purpose the slides carrying the ball-holders and the sliding gate may be made of eXtra width, if desired, so as to afford sufficient space for the names of all the electors, and the right-hand row is used for voting on constitutional amendments or other questions, the intermediate rows being adapted for selective voting. Irregular or scratch votes are written or printed on cards inserted in suitable passages at the lower end of the face-plate, and the handle H is employed to lock out any of the rows of slides for class voting. The slides of the ball-holders in each row interlock with each other, so that only one vote can be cast for the candidate for any particular oiice, and the straightticket row is interlocked against all the other rows, (except that for the question,) so that the voter cannot vote straight-that is, for all the candidates of a particular party-and also selectively.

s In Fig. l a ball I is shown inserted in the holders U at the upper left-hand corner of the face-plate B-that is, a straightvote is to be cast and for the Republican party if this is represented by the upper horizontal line. Vhen the ball is in this position, all the rest of the machine (except the question-row 25) is locked out, and when the machine is operated by the voter or inspector turning the handle G the ball passes through the face-plate and actuates the counter immediately behind it at the upper left-hand corner. To vote any other straight ticket, the ball should be placed between the proper set of holders lower down in the straight row. To vote selectively or to split, balls are inserted in the holders next below the names of the preferred candidates. rIhe slides carrying the ball-holders are provided with suitable name-cards.

The face-plate B may be made of one or more parts or sections, and it is suitably secured in place in the case. Suitable grooves or Ways are provided on the front of the plate, in which the slides (Z, carrying the ball-holders C and the gates F, are movable freely up and down. In the arrangement shown the vstrips a, grooved on each side, Figs. 1, 3, and

12, are attached to the plate. The construction of the ball-holders will be understood from Figs. 1, 5, 10, and 11. The holders for the reception of a ball consist of an upper jaw I), which bears centrally on the top of the ball, and the lower supports o cl, one on each side of the vertical line, and on which the ball rests until delivered to the corresponding channel and counter. These jaws and supports may be made in one piece with the slides CZ or separately and fastened thereto. The uppermost slide in each row is provided with a balljaw on its lower end, and the remaining slides have the double supports o c at their upper ends and the jaw at their lower ends, except the lowest slide, which has only the supports at its upper end. A knob or handle f is attached to the lower slide for the purpose of manipulating the same. The slides are independently movable up and down in their guides. The amount of the movement of the slides is limited by the pin f, Figs. 5,

" and supports c c is in this case about an inch.

The weight of all the slides rests on astop below the lowest one-such, for instanceas the tubes K, Fig. 3. To insert aball, one or more of the slides are lifted, and the ball being placed in the holders the weight of the slide or slides above it, acting' through the jaw serves to push the ball backward against the gate F. rIhe'interlocking between the series of slides in each row is thus secured, and consequently as the voter can only introduce one ball in each row he cannot vote for more than one candidate for the same office. Only one size of ball can be employed in the machine. A larger ball cannot go through the openings g in the gate nor the openings /L in the face-plate, besides which it would block the machine, and a smaller ball or weight of irregular shape will not be sustained between the lower supports c but will fall down. Frein Figs. l and lOit will be seen that the distance between the upper inner points of the supports c c is only slightly less than the diameter of the ball, so that no smaller object can be held between them, and the jaws and holders project outward a sulfieient distance so that the ball when in place is pressed backward against the gate F, by the downward movement of which it is permitted to pass through one of the openings f/ in the gate, and so through one of the openings /L in the face-plate, whence it enters the channel E and acts on the star-wheel fz', Fig. 5, of the corresponding counter. One of the gates F is shown on Fig. 3 in its upper position in dotted lines. rIhe depressed position is represented in Fig. 6. It should be noted here that the channels E are provided below each counter with the inclined partitions y', Fig. 9, which divert the balls laterally through an opening, so that a ball can only act on one counter-that in front of which it has been placed in the holders. The jaw above the ball projects outward from the slide farther than the holders, so that the weight of the slide or slides above the ball tends to press it against the gate and when the gate has been depressed to force it through the openings in the gate and the face-plate into the channel to actuate the counter. The lower ends of the ball-holding jaws'may be enlarged into knobs, which may be recessed below for convenience of manipulation. The partitions j in the construction shown are formed by bending inward a portion of the side walls of the channel, leaving lateral openings through which the balls descend in the supplementary channels J, Fig. 9. If the wide slides and gate are used, fianged bars i', Fig. 9, are placed along the channels to guide the falling balls. At the lower end of their descent the balls enter openings s, Figs. and 12, in the tubes K, by which they are directed under the lower end of the face-plate to the receptacle L at the front. These tubes may be inclined to the horizontal line. They may be provided with a partition to prevent the balls from rolling backward. rl`he slides are provided above the jaws with a name-card containing proper in- IOO IIO

structions for the voter, such as the party, the title of the oflice, and the name of the candidate. Similar cards are employed on the rear side in proper relation with the counters, or numbers may be used on both the front and back in addition to the name-cards on the front. A glass plate M, Fig. 5, inserted in the back of the machine, protects the counters Without preventing the reading of their indications. rIhis plate is conveniently held in place by the removable strip 7a Any suitable form of counter may be employed, preferably one provided with the fivepointed star-wheel t', Fig. 5. The ball as it descends through the channel encounters the arm of the star which projects horizontally inward and turns it downward out of the way, such motion advancing the counting-disks by one number. As the ball is moving slowly at this time, being at the beginning of its descent, only the requisite one-fifth of a revolution is imparted to the star-wheel. The channels are slotted to permit the rotation of the stars.

Z l are screws by which the channels are secured to the rear side of the face-plate.

The mechanism for movingthe gatesup and down consists of the handle G, the crank m, Fig. .5, the rod n, the rock-shaft 0, segmental gears 29, racks g, and the movable bar N, Figs. 3, 5, and 6. In Fig. 5 the bar and racks are indicated in their elevated position and in Fig. 6 in the lowest position. A complete revolution of the handle and crank draws the bar down and raises it up again to its original position. The handleis provided with a suitable locking-dog t, Fig. l, engaging in anotch in the fixed disk u. t' is a perforated lug for locking the dog so that the machine cannot be operated, a padlock or other suitable .device being used for this purpose. The bar N is attached to the racks g. The rock-shaft 0 eX- tends across the machine and has the segmental gears p at each end engaging with racks on the bar, so that the bar is moved equally up and down. Suitable guides may, however, be employed for the bar or racks. The gates F are all connected with the bar in any suitable way. In the arrangement shown the block O is provided with a series of pins o, which pass through the holes w, Fig. 9, in the upper ends of the gates and into holes 0;, Fig. 3, in theI bar. The block O is held in place by the hinged door P, which foldsdown over the upper part of the front of the machine and is secured by locks or other suitable devices. Slots y in the plate B permit the up-and-down travel of the pins fu. By turning the crank (in either direction) the gates F are all depressed, so that their openings g come opposite the openings /L in the face-plate, thereby permitting the balls to pass through the plate to actuate such of the counters as are located behind them.

The interlocking plate U, Figs. 4, 9, and l 13, prevents the straight voter from voting selectively. rl`his plate is arranged to slide to and fro horizontally, being supported in suitable ways or guides. Itis provided with aseries of slots e, in which the pins f on the upper slides (l engage. At their lower ends these slots are provided with lateral recesses having inclined upper surfaces la 72,2. It will be observed that the recess It', which engages with the pin f of the straight-ticket row of slides, projects in one direction, while therecesses 7a2 project in the opposite direction. When the pin f of the straight row is raised up by the insertion of a ball or a card in that row, the interlocking plate U is shifted laterally to the left in Fig. 13, thereby locking out all the other rows, since the pins of these rows cannot move. rIhis condition is indicated in Fig. 9. On the contrary, if any of these pins are raised the plate is shifted sidewise in the opposite direction, and the straightticket row cannot then be used.

rlhe irregular-voting member consists of 'a card Q, Figs. 7 and 8, of any suitable dimensions or material and on which the voter writes, prints, or otherwise aflixes the name of his preferred candidate or candidates. To vote irregularly or for some person not regularly nominated, the voter lifts up all the slides in one of the rows and inserts the card in the loop .e in the gate and through the slot e in the face-plate. The card Q then supports the slides until by the descent of the gate the bar e at the lower end of the slotted loop .e no longer sustains the card, which falls backward and downward from its own weight, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, into the drawers or receptacles R in the base of the machine, prepared und'er each row for the irregular ballots. e', Figs. 5 and 6, is a bar or stop arranged lengthwise, which prevents the cards from being introduced too fa. The descent of the slide carries the card below this stop, when it overbalances on the bottom e' of the loop and falls over backward, as indicated. The plate S at the top of the base of the machine is notched or slotted for the introduction and descent of the cards. A ball cannot be inserted in any row in which a card has been usedethat is, an irregular voter cannot vote for any regular candidate in that row. The straight-ticket row is provided with the irregular-voting mechanism, so that in case there are independent nominations or more parties than the machine provides for this irregular device can be used for balloting by cards for candidates so nominated. The use of a card in the straight-ticket row locks out the remainder of the machine, (except the question.)

For group voting, where two or more caudidates are nominated by the same party for the same office. a single row of counters is employed, the names of all the candidates of the same party in the group being placed on the proper slide. To split such a ticket, the irregular device is used. To vote for a person nominated in the group by one party and indorsed by another, the name of such candidate is placed on the placard of both parties and the voter can vote for him in either place, but he cannot vote twice for any such indorsed candidate, or the irregular device may be employed to cast a ballot for the indorsed candidate and any others in the group whom the voter may prefer. For fractional voting the voter writes the names of his preferred candidates on a card and inserts it in the irregular device. It will be noticed that all groups are split in the same way as the electoral vote.

For class voting-siicln for instance, as where women are allowed to vote for a schoolboard--provision is made for locking out the whole machine, except one or more rows. For this purpose the rock-shaft T is placed lengthwise of the machine and provided with a series of cams, screws, or knobs b', which may engage against the pins f on the upper slide in each row and prevent their operation. By removing one of the screws from the rock-shaft its corresponding row is permitted to be used when the rock-shaft is turned, so as to lock out all the other rows. A suitable locking device, handle, and indicator are placed on one end of the rock-shaft outside of the case. The indicator V, Fig. 14, has a pin, which engages in either of the holes Z or Z2 in the fixed plate The handle H slides lengthwise of the shaft, which may be turned and locked in either position, with the screws in the path of the pins f or away from them.

For questions I employ one or more of the rows at the right-hand end of the machine. The plate U is cut away, so that this row is not interlocked with the straight ticket. (See Fig. 9.) To use two or more rows for questions, the incline /ii maybe made on a removable plate a, Fig. 13. rIhe irregular device may also be employed for voting on questions.

In this specilication the word ball designates a solid body of any suitable material having a substantially spherical outline, and the word upright indicates any up and down position consistent with the proper performance of the functions of the balls.

I claim l. The combination in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated plate, means for supporting a ball on one side of the plate comprising a series of interlocking ball-holders projecting in front of the plate, a counter on the other side, and mechanism adapted to deliver the ball through the plate to operate the counter, as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated plate, means for supportingthe ball on the front side of the plate, comprising a series of interlocking ball-holders projecting from the front of the plate for a distance less than the diameter but greater than the semidiameter of the ball, a counter on the rear side of the plate, and mechanism adapted to deliver the ball through the plate to operate the counter, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated plate, two or more rows of series of interlocking ball-supporting devices on the front side of the plate, said devices being adapted to support a voted ball by pressure toward the plate, corresponding rows of counters on the rear side of the plate, and mechanism arranged to deliver a voted ball in each row through the plate to operate one of the counters, as and for the purposes set forth.

4C. The combination in a voting-machine, of

the upright perforated plate,the movable perforated gate adapted to close the perforations in the plate. the interlocking slides carrying the projecting ball-holders on the front side of the plate adapted to support a voted ball against the gate, the counter on the rear side of the plate, and the channel for the ball, as and for the purposes described.

5. rIlhe combination in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated plate, a series of interlocking slides carrying the projecting ballholders on the front of the plate, and adapted to support a voted ball by pressure toward the plate, the movable perforated gate between the slides and the plate, a corresponding series of counters on the opposite side of the plate, the channel for the ball, and means between each of the counters for diverting the ball out of the channel, as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated plate, a series of interlocking slides carrying the projecting ballholders on the front of the plate, and adapted to support a voted ball by pressure toward the plate, the movable perforated gate between the slides and the plate, a corresponding series of counters on the opposite side of the plate, the channel for the ball, means between each of the counters for diverting the ball out of the channel, and means 'for restoring the ball to the front of the plate, as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with the movable slides of the central ball-holding jaw depending at an angle from the upper slide and the two ballsupports attached to the lower slide, and projecting upward on each side ol the jaw, as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination with the movable slides of the central ball-holding jaw depending at an angle from the upper slides and the two ballsupports attached to the lower slide and projecting upward on each side of the jaw, the upright perforated plate, the movable perforated gate, and the counter, as and for the purposes described.

IIO

9. The combination of the series of slides having a limited range of movement, each slide being provided at its lower end with the ball-holding jaw, and at its upper end with the two ball-supports, the upright perforated plate, the movable perforated gate, and the corresponding series of counters as and for the purposes described. 10. The combination with the series of slides having a limited range of movement, each slide being provided at its lower end with the ballholding jaw, and at its upper end with the two ball-supports, the upright perforated and slotted plate, the movable perforated gate having the slot in its lower portion, the stop for the irregular-voting member, and the series of counters, as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination with the series of slides having relative movement, each slide being provided at its lower end with the ball-holding jaw, and at its upper end with the two ball-supports, and the uppermost slide having a rearwardly-projecting pin, the upright perforated plate, the movable perforated gate having a slot in its upper portion to receive the pin, and the corresponding series of counters, as and for the purposes described.

12. The combination of the series of slides having a limited range of movement, each slide being provided with the upper and lower ball-holding devices, and the uppermost slide having a rearwardly-projecting pin, the upright perforated plate, the movable perforated gate having a slot in its upper portion to receive the pin, and a slot in its lower portion for the irregular-balloting member, and the corresponding series of counters, as and for the purposes described.

13. The combination with the upright perforated plate, of the slotted channel, the counters arranged along the channel, and having the star-wheels projecting into the slot, the partitions in the channel between the counters, the supplementary channel, and the passage leading to the opposite side of the plate, as and for the purposes set forth.

14. The combination with the upright slotted perforated plate of two or more rows of series of interlocked slides carrying the upper and lower ball-holding devices, the uppermost slides in each series being provided with pins projecting into the slots, corresponding rows of series of counters, the rock-shaft having removable lugs adapted to engage with the pins, and means for locking the rock-shaft in the required positions, as and for the purposes set forth.

15. The combination, in a voting-machine, of the upright perforated slotted plate, the straight-ticket row of intel-locked slides carrying' ball-holders and two or more rows of interlocked slides carrying ball-holders adapted for selective voting on the front of the plate, the uppermost slide in each row being provided with a pin projecting into the slots in the plate, the corresponding series of counters on the rear side of the plate, means for delivering the balls through the plate to operate the counters, and the laterally-movable interlocking plate, having slots with oppositely-inclined sides adapted to engage the pins, as and for the purposes set forth.

16. The combination of the upper central ball-holding jaw with the lower ball-supports having their upper inner corners separated by a distance less than the diameter of the ball, as and for the purposes described.

17. The combination of two or more relatively movable slides, having the central ballholding jaw on one end, and the ball-supports lon the other, as and for the purposes described.

AN GUS C. GORDON.

Witnesses:

A. B. NoRRIs, S. W. PUFFER. 

